Back to School on Conservation

- 9:57 am - September 9th, 2015

September is officially here – and that means it’s back-to-school time. Just like your kids are facing new challenges and schedules after a long summer, you’re dealing with the changing of the season and all that entails. Give yourself a much needed break – from high energy bills – by following some of these simple suggestions. And with the holiday season around the corner, these kitchen-specific tips can also help you save on seasonal energy expenses as you prepare your holiday meals.

Open your windows. A good rule of thumb is to open the windows when the temperature outside is cooler than the inside of your home.

Lower the temperature of your water heater from 140° to 120°F. Each 10° reduction could save you 3% to 5% in water heating costs.

Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer.

Don't leave the refrigerator door open. Every time you do, up to 30% of that cold air could escape, making your heating system work that much harder to maintain temperature.

Similarly, don’t leave your oven open. The heat could escape, which will both make you uncomfortable and cause the oven to have to regenerate the lost heat.

Defrost food before cooking; you could save 30% to 50% on cooking costs. Pre-heat your oven only for baking.

Air-dry dishes and avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features of your dishwasher.

Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water. It's faster and it uses less energy.